Pendulum randomly operable devices and systems controlled thereby



R. JAGER 3,519,768 PENDULUM RANDOMLY OPERABLE DEVICES AND SYSTEMS July 7, 1970 CONTROLLED THEREBY Filed May 8, 1968 F5: 4) Co ym C/ecu/r 1 N VENTOR.

fucneo- Mia/vac United States Patent 01 ace 3,519,768 Patented July 7, 1970 3,519,768 PENDULUM RANDOMLY OPERABLE DEVICES AND SYSTEMS CONTROLLED THEREBY Rodolfo Jiiger, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Hepatex AG., Wattwil, St. Gall, Switzerland Filed May 8, 1968, Ser. No. 727,503 Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 11, 1967,

6,666/ 67 Int. Cl. H01h 35/14; D01h 3/00 US. Cl. 200-52 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pendulum consisting of an upper articulable chain section and a lower rigid section and formed from electrically conductive material is stroked in random fashion by a rotating impulse arm into oscillation for random engagement with a fixed contact to complete at random moments an electric circuit. Alternative arrangements are described for closing a switch in response to pendulum movement. A system is described wherein the random switch is used to actuate an electromagnetic clutch or the like for superimposing an aperiodic function on the reciprocation of the yarn guide in a bobbin wind r.

The present invention relates to randomly operable devices and, more specifically, to a randomly operable electric switch and systems controlled thereby.

There are many instances in the mechanized world where a random or aperiodic function is required. In order to explain further, reference may be had to the field of yarn production where random modification of the operation of the machinery has been found desirable. For example, in the case of yarn winding devices equipped with oscillating thread guides, defects often occur in the formation of the wound bobbin. These defects may take the form of irregularities or unevenness in the layering of the yarn. Saddle effects with larger diameters at the sides of the bobbins and a reduced mid-portion are well known. Problems arise when the diameter of the spool or of the yarn thereon bears a particular relationship to the number of strokes of the thread guide. Attempts have been made to avoid these undesirable results such as using various eccentric mechanisms for imparting a disturbing influence to the winding apparatus. The difiiculty with these known devices is that the disturbing influence itself occurs with a given periodicity.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a truly randomly operable device. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a randomly operable electric switch which can be used wherever it is desired to introduce randomly occurring phenomena.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a randomly operable electric switch comprising a pendulum, means for suspending the pendulum at one end for unrestrained oscillation, an impulse mechanism associated with the last mentioned means for aperiodically imparting kinetic energy to the pendulum, the pendulum having a multiply articulable portion and a rigid portion, the rigid portion being suspended from an end of the articulable portion, and means for completing an electric circuit as a function of the oscillation of the pendulum.

As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a randomly operable mechanism comprising a source of voltage, a randomly operable electric switch, and electrically operable means, the source being connected through the switch to the electrically operable means for energizing the means when the switch is closed.

The invention will be better understood after reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a randomly operable electric switch constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a yarn winding machine incorporating the randomly operable switch of FIG. 1.

The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar parts.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a randomly operable electric switch having a cylindrical metal housing 10 provided at its base with a ball and socket mount 11. A disk 12 of insulating material sets in the top of the cylindrical housing 10, as shown, and is secured in place by a metal cap 13 attached to the housing 10 by the screws 14. A spirit level 15 is mounted in the cap 13 for enabling the device to be oriented in a vertical position.

A guide cylinder 16 of insulating material is disposed between the disk 12 and an intermediate metal plate 17. Positioned within the guide cylinder 16 is a cylindrical block 18 of insulating material having a central bore 19 which is cylindrcal throughout the upper region 20 and tapers inwardly at its lower region 21. The cylindrical region 20 of the bore 19 telescopingly engages the short insulating guide tube 22. The length of the tube 22 and the length of the bore region 20 are such that the block 18 can move from the position shown in FIG. 1 to an elevated position near the disk 12. Secured to the lower face of the block 18 concentric with the bore 19 is a metallic ring 23, preferably of gold. The ring 23 is held in position by an insulating annulus 24 fixed to the bottom of block 18 in any suitable manner.

An arrangement is provided for adjustably positioning the block 18 within the guide cylinder 16. This arrange ment takes the form of a compression spring 25 urging the block upwardly, and an adjusting screw 26 threadedly engaged in the disk 12 and bearing against the upper surface of the block 18, as shown.

A metallic anchor 27 is secured in the disk 12 substantially coaxially with the guide tube 22 and the bore 19. The anchor 27 constitutes means for suspending the pedulum, designated generally by the reference numeral 28, which consists of a multiply articulable portion 29 and a rigid portion 30. An shown, the multiply articulable portion 29 consists of a plurality of links interconnected to forma chain. Preferably, the links of the chain are made from a good electrically conducting material such as gold. The rigid portion 30 is suspended from the link chain portion 29., and may consist of a rod-like body portion having an attaching eyelet at its upper end and an enlarged portion at its lower end. The rigid portion of the pendulum is also fabricated from a good electrical conductor such as gold. A satisfactory method for suspending the pendulum is to provide a few additional chain links which can be secured by soldering or the like within a cavity in the anchor 27.

In order to provide an electrical circuit, a conductor 31 is connected from the anchor 27 through an aperture 32 in the disk 12 to a terminal post 33 and then by way of a conductor 34 to the exterior of the device. In this manner, the suspended end of the pendulum is electrically connected to a first output terminal of the switch, and the pendulum may be considered a first contact. The ring 23 provides a second contact, that is, a contact for cooperating with the pendulum 28 for completing the electric circuit. The ring 23 is connected by a conductor 35 passing through a bore 36 in the block 18 and through an aperture 37 and aperture 32 in the disk 12 to the terminal post 38. The post 38 is then connected to the exterior of the device by a further conductor 39.

In order to ground the housing of the switch, there is provided a ground wire 40 connected to the side of the housing 10 by means of a screw 41.

The impulse mechanism for imparting kinetic energy to the pendulum and causing operation of the device comprises an arm 42 mounted for rotation within the region of oscillation of the pendulum for engaging the pendulum when movement of the pendulum brings it within range of the arm. The arm 42 extends radially from the end of a shaft 43 which is rotatably mounted vertically below the pendulum, as shown. The arm 42 is positioned above the lower end of the rigid portion 30 of the pendulum. An electric motor 44, secured to the underside of plate 17 by screws 45, is coupled in driving relation to the shaft 43. Energy for the motor is supplied by way of the leads 46.

In order to place the switch in operation, the motor 44 is energized causing the arm 42 to rotate. Gravity and the vertical orientation of the switch will cause the rigid portion 30 of the pendulum 28 to be within range of the arm 42. Hence, rotation of the arm will impart motion to the pendulum. Eventually, the pendulum will be stroked in such a manner as to drive it against and into contact with the ring 23. This momentarily closes the circuit between the output conductors 34 and 39. In a random manner, the pendulum will swing to and fro, the chain link portion giving rise to ancillary oscillation within the pendulum structure itself and contributing to the random nature of the pendulum movement. When the pendulum comes within range of the rotating arm 42, depending upon the geometries relating the position of the arm to the instantaneous position of the pendulum, the pendulum may be stroked so as to impart kinetic energy thereto. It has been found that the action is entirely random in nature. In addition, it has been found that the number of contacts made by the pendulum with respect to the conductive ring 23 within a given time interval can be varied by varying the speed of rotation of the arm 42 and by adjusting the level of the ring 23. However, it is to be understood that the time interval between successive contacts or closures of the switch will vary in a random manner.

In a typical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the showing of FIG. 1, the articulable portion 29 of the pendulum was formed from five rings with a total length of 11 millimeters and a total weight of 0.170 gram. The rigid portion of the pendulum had an overall length of 17.7 millimeters, a body diameter of l millimeter, an enlarged portion diameter of 2 millimeters, and a total weight of 0.270 gram. The aperture in the ring 23 had a diameter of 8 millimeters. Pendulum 28 and ring 23 were constructed from gold. The arm 42 had a length of 2.3 millimeters. It was found satisfactory to rotate the arm at a speed of 500 r.p.m. At such arm speed, varying the position of the ring 23 caused the output to be variable from one extreme, requiring about 300 minutes for 1000 impulses, to the opposite extreme, requiring about /2 minutes for the same number of impulses.

In order to consider a particular use for the randomly operable switch, reference should be had to FIG. 2. As seen therein, there is provided a source of voltage 47 which may be connected to the input conductor 39 of the randomly operable switch designated generally by the reference numeral 48. The other conductor 34 from the switch 48 may be connected to a relay control circuit 49. The control circuit 49 may take any well known form for applying control voltage to an electromagnetic clutch '50 upon receiving a control signal from the randomly operable switch 48. The clutch 50 is interposed between the shafts 51 and 52 for driving a drum cam 53. A motor 54 is coupled in driving relation through the V-belt drive train 55 to the shaft 51 and to a further shaft 56. The shaft 56 drives in known manner a bobbin 57 upon which is to be wound a length of yarn. A thread guide 58 is controlled and reciprocated by the drum cam 53 in known manner.

The device shown in FIG. 2 operates in the following manner. Normally, the electromagnetic clutch 50 is enga'g'ed so that as the motor 54 drives both the bobbin 57 and the thread guide 58, yarn is fed back and forth along the bobbin. However, at random moments the randomly operable switch 48 closes a circuit to the clutch 50 causing-it to disengage and interrupt the transfer of driving power to the cam drum 53. This momentarily interrupts the traverse of the thread guide 58. It has been found that these disturbances in the otherwise steady movement of the thread guide are sufficient to prevent build-up of uneven layers on the bobbin.

Having described the invention with reference to certain specific presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that numerous changes may be made therein. For example, instead of employing a contact ring, such as the ring 23, in the switch of FIG. 1, other means may be utilized to respond to oscillation of the pendulum. As examples, use may be made of magnetic pickups, photoelectric cells, or the like, arranged to close an electric circuit, in known manner, whenever the pendulum passes through the view of the pickup or cell. The impeller or rotating arm need not be made of rigid material, but may be flexible in nature thereby contributing to the random operation of the device. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange for moving the location of the rotating arm while the device is in operation or by means of a pre-adjustment in order to alter the operating characteristics.

Instead of using an electromagnetic clutch to couple the randomly operable switch to the yarn winding machine, use can also be made of a variable speed transmission, or other machine adjusting element. The randomly operable switch may also be used to advantage in connection with novelty spinning or slub yarn spinning machines. A further use for the switch is for controlling random sampling along a production line.

It should be apparent that the uses to which the randomly operable switch can be put are virtually unlimited. It is desired, therefore, to encompass all such changes as might appear apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A randomly operable electric switch comprising a pendulum, means for suspending said pendulum at one end for unrestrained oscillation, said pendulum having a multiply articulable portion and a rigid portion, said rigid portion being suspended from an end of said articulable portion, and said articulable portion being constructed to give rise to an ancillary oscillation within said pendulum so that said pendulum oscillates in a random manner, an impulse mechanism associated with said pendulum for aperiodically imparting kinetic energy to said pendulum to cause said pendulum to continuously oscillate in said random manner, and means for completing an electric circuit as a function of the oscillation of said pendulum.

2. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 1, wherein said multiply articulable portion of the pendulum comprises a plurality of interconnected links forming a chain.

3. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 2, wherein said impulses mechanism comprises an arm mounted for rotation within the region of oscillation of said pendulum for engaging said pendulum when movement of the pendulum brings it within range of said arm, and means coupled thereto for rotating said arm.

4. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 3, wherein said arm extends radially from the end of a shaft which is rotatably mounted vertically below said pendulum, the arm being positioned above the lower end of the rigid portion of said pendulum.

5. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 4, wherein said means for rotating the arm comprises an electric motor coupled in driving relation to said shaft.

6. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 5, wherein both said links and the rigid portion of said pendulum are formed from electrically conductive material, said one end of the pendulum is electrically connected to a first output terminal of the switch, and an electric contact is provided electrically connected to a second output terminal of the switch, said contact constituting said means for completing an electric circuit and being mounted adjacent said pendulum for aperiodic engagement by said pendulum to complete at random moments of circuit between said two terminals during oscillation of said pendulum.

7. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 2, wherein both said links and the rigid portion of said pendulum are formed from electrically conductive material, said one end of the pendulum is electrically connected to a first output terminal of the switch, and an electric contact is provided electrically connected to a second output terminal of the switch, said contact constituting said means for completing an electric circuit and being mounted adjacent said pendulum for aperiodic engagement by said pendulum to complete at random moments a circuit between said two terminals during oscillation of said pendulum.

8. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 7, wherein said contact comprises a metal ring surrounding in spaced relationship the rigid portion of said pendulum for engagement thereby during oscillation of said pendulum.

9. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 8, wherein said metal ring is adjustably mounted for selective movement along the length of the rigid portion of said pendulum to thereby adjust the average number of switch closures Occurring in a given time interval.

10. A randomly operable operable electric switch according to claim 9, wherein said impulse mechanism comprises an arm extending radially from the end of a shaft which is rotatably mounted vertically below said pendulum, the arm being positioned above the lower end of the rigid portion of said pendulum for engaging said rigid portion when movement of the latter brings it within range of said arm, and motor means coupled thereto for rotating said shaft.

11. A randomly operable mechanism comprising a source of voltage, a randomly operable electric switch, and electrically operable means, said source being connected through said switch to said electrically operable means for energizing said means when said switch is closed and said switch comprising a pendulum, means for suspending said pendulum at one end for unrestrained oscillation, an impulse mechanism associated with said last mentioned means for aperiodically imparting kinetic energy to said pendulum, said pendulum having a multiply articulable portion and a rigid portion, said rigid portion being suspended from an end of said articulable portion, and means for completing an electrical connection circuit between said source of voltage and said electrically operable means as a function of the oscillation of said pendulum.

12. A randomly operable electric switch according to claim 11, wherein said multiply articulable portion of the pendulum comprises a plurality of interconnected links forming a chain.

13. A randomly operable mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said electrically operable means comprises an electromechanical clutch.

14. A randomly operable mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said electrically operable means comprises means for modifying the operation of yarn winding machine.

15. A randomly operable mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said electrically operable means comprises means for modifying the operation of a yarn spinning machine.

16. A randomly operable mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said electrically operable means comprises means for actuating an article selecting mechanism in an article handling apparatus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,701,966 2/1929 Thorne-Baker l78-12 1,870,347 8/1932 Roberts ZOO-61.51 2,448,597 9/1948 Jolley et al. 200-61.51 X 2,542,132 2/1951 Goertzen 200-61.51 2,976,105 3/1961 Rose et al ZOO-52 X 3,091,909 6/1963 Taylor et a1. 57-34 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner R. A. VANDERHYE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

